Basic Information

Abbreviation: SOLI (J. F. Christ, 1947)
Word length: 7,908 (C. E. Lauterbach, 1960)
First published: Collier's, December 26, 1903; Strand Magazine, January 1904

Discussion Questions

• Why did Holmes take a break in his incredibly busy schedule to investigate this case? What convinced him to do so?
• What role does Miss Smith’s romantic life play in this story? How does the story unfold around it?
• Did you notice any indicators that the cyclist is maybe someone Miss Smith knows before Holmes highlighted them? What were they?
• Does Holmes regret telling Watson he did a poor job of investigating?
• It seems there has been a breakdown in loyalty among the three men who are in cahoots to abduct Miss Smith. What lends evidence to this? 

Film Adaptations

• The Solitary Cyclist (Jeremy Brett, David Burke, 1984)